Tractor Pulling Accident - Walsh Bros 1998

Tractor Pulling accident at an NTPA event - Fort Recovery OH. Walsh Bros Unlimited Modified tractor - 1998

[@keira23irishz]

It is correct that Dave no longer pulls, but my father Dan Walsh still does.Sad that Daves hobby and love was taken away all becuase the sled operator neglected a problem w/his sled BTW( its says not seriously injured but he was!) Such a sad video, never thought I would see this again. Dan continues to pull, and you will now and then catch Dave on the track with my father like the old days. This was their life, their hobby together... still very sad to this day.

[@chadspence7483]

Before this sad and unfortunate incident took place it would have been cool to see Dan and Dave venture into the world of Monster Jam. I think an Irish Challenger monster truck would've been an awesome collection as part of their other ingenious creations.

[@cs-gj3yf]

i know dan on facebook, he had that old moline

[@richardchambers3533]

I was there that night also. Just glad that Mister Walsh is alive. That tractor was a work of art.👍

[@chadspence7483]

The Walsh's are legends in pulling just like the Arfons, Banters, and Sullivan's. I watched and followed this sport for many years. Despite being seriously injured, I'm glad Dave survived. God Bless.

[@wildntheyoung7814]

Absolutely right bro I used to watch them as a kid all those guys fast Freddy freeman Tim Engler Art Arfons it's crazy to think that Walsh retired after this crash even Allen Gaines is still pulling

[@chadspence7483]

@@wildntheyoung7814 Allen Gaines still competes? Really? That man was a fierce competitor and entertainer. I miss watching the original Orange Blossom Special Pulling Truck, the 6200 lbs 2 wheel drive modified one, and the Monster Train. Ah yes Fred Freeman (Mean Mistreater), Tim Engler (Mission Impossible) he hails from Princeton Indiana which is an hour and a half from where I live, and those Buckeye Turbine Beast of the Arfons. Art, Dusty, and Tim always cranked up that heat. Always good to meet not just pulling but also all around Motorsport enthusiast.

[@wildntheyoung7814]

@@chadspence7483 my comment was from 5 years ago Allen Gaines Passed away 3 years ago but he was pulling to the end Sorry you have to find out like this

[@chadspence7483]

@@wildntheyoung7814 oh wow. He was a good competitor.

[@dwp139]

A similar incident happened in 1999 in Houston, and the difference there was the tractor didn't overturn, but it launched the tractor nearly into the wall of the Astrodome. By far this was the scariest and most violent accident in tractor pulling. Sad that the Walsh Bros. had to end in this manner, probably one of the most revolutionary tractors to ever compete.

[@chadspence7483]

That incident that you speak of in Houston did that by chance involve the Predator modified tractor?

[@dwp139]

@@chadspence7483 I can't remember the name off hand but sounds right

[@jamestatham9950]

There was a worse accident at Great eccleston in the UK a few years back, driver lost his life and that was a sledge malfunction I was there unfortunately! Modified tractor with 3 V12 engines on board forget the name of the tractor, the weight box broke free and came through the front of the sledge into the back of the tractor, was nasty! 😭

[@tommysrensen3742]

@@jamestatham9950 Yes that is correct,that was Q8 team popey with 3 v12 Allison from Holland,and Jan Van Alphen beheind the stering wheel. The bad thing was,that they used the same sledge the day before,and the weightbox fly 2 times to the front end on the sledge. The weldings in both side of the front got craced,but they did not weld it again to the day after. Therefor when the weightbox again fly to the front of the sledge (bad or weak cluts), then the front on the sledge could not take the force anymore and the box hit the rollcace and Jan got the steringwheel into his body. So if somebody had taken care of the sledge the day before and fixt it,then Jan would be alive.

[@RHCMike]

Here after this past weekend where Dave Walsh made 3 great runs with their 2 new turbine tractors (one of them scratched the second night) on the very same track this took place. I imagine there were some memories that flooded back to him returning to that track but this time he didn’t have a piece of junk sled to worry about

[@rcman162004]

I was there that night...after the accident, Doc Riley was the most cool calm and collected announcer ever that night, it was scary as hell to see that

[@chadspence7483]

I always liked Doc as a commentator. Met him at a monster truck rally in Owensboro Kentucky back during the summer of 2000. Really nice guy. I also miss watching him on the ol school ESPN Challenge of Power from the early 90's. Butch Krieger was also another pretty cool commentator as well. But my all time favorite was Army Armstrong.

[@keira23irishz]

Yes I agree Progfan, its sad. And the sled operator was a very very close friend of our family. It was a very sad moment in all of our lives. Dave has watched this video by the way, over and over! Go Irish Challenger : )

[@Progfan2970]

Indeed...wow, a lot of hits on this Vid thus far. I was a BIG fan of the Walsh bros...and also was disgusted at the facts surrounding the accident and failures of the sled operator. Long live the Irish Challenger!

[@nohaxjustdrums6447]

He's so lucky that he had a roll cage!

[@marsenmoon]

The sled thing was not doing what its supposed to do , the pan went up in the air fast halfway the ride , and the sled didnt brake at all when things started to go wrong , sled was not operated the right way , or was broken / not ready for the pull yet . Sled reset halfway ?

[@leef8834]

Illegal sled, no brakes on sled or box. Box went back halfway up incline.

[@557warmachine]

not breaks, the weight box wasn't engaged so there was essentially no load behind the tractor, but lots of momentum

[@bkrull1988]

I was there that night what a scary ride !

[@aganschow99]

You can hear when the driver let's out of the throttle when he realizes its not gonna stop

[@guckianb]

I was there that night sitting on the hil side at around the 200 ft mark. The accident looked much worse from that side of the track and at that angel than this video. Such a terrible thing to happen. I don't know all the details but have heard some of the things with the sled issue. I know the pullers that were sitting in line behind him had to have been thinking "what if" once that happened.

[@swampratt36]

Damn sure wasn't the first modified tractor with a roll cage , that's strait up BS !

[@whiskeywisco]

swampratt36 maybe this was just a moment when they decided the importance of one

[@keira23irishz]

@Progfan2970 he is my uncle, yes there was of course serious injuries.

[@clayboist]

i cant blame the guy for ending his career

[@veldkampmotorsports2k205]

c_alright I agree man.

[@21sheldo]

Rodalyn Knox and the Sassy Massy had a cage years before Walsh did.

[@chadspence7483]

Does Rodalyn still compete?

[@tommysrensen3742]

@@chadspence7483 No Rodalyn stopped for many years ago,and She and her Husband John have also sold their Sassy massey Firm!

[@Vegerito]

I stumbled upon this video and realized I was there, except I was younger and short so for the most part only remember the sound :/

[@brandonhayes5951]

Well, this same thing just happened in Taylorville, IL

[@adamalexander930]

@keira23irishz How serious was his injuries? Dave was such a class act!!

[@TheMKEWERBY]

WOW! BOWSERS!

[@dougnickerson7145]

Why didn't the sled guy bail?

[@whiskeywisco]

Doug Nickerson tried dragging his steel balls in the dirt

[@robertredmon6387]

I grew watching all of these guys the arfons banter bros hutcherson tim engler hes very lucky to have roll cage the sled operator should dropped the skid pan nailed the breaks and hanged the kill switch at the 150 200ft mark

[@intimidator4x4]

I was there, very scary

[@zacheryalderton8910]

WHAT WAS IT DOING

[@Progfan2970]

No injuries were sustained to my knowledge...except one guy crouched down behind the cattle shoot/wall as it went over it and got a broken nose. This of course was rumor...can anyone verify this?

[@AzzKicker-bz1cb]

+Alex Veldkamp It’s mechanical!!! Everything that is mechanical can and will break at the worst possible time!!! I saw a pulling sled break! The transfer box(weight box) went all the way to the front of the sled, chain drive broke, box rolled back down the the rear of the sled, and the 4 wheel drive truck that was pulling the sled took off down the track. When the driver realized what had happened, he hit his brakes, the sled hit the back of his truck and the transfer box tipped the sled up and it landed in the bed of the pickup truck!

[@Armand1970ful]

The sled operator should have pulled the kill switch!!!

[@keira23irishz]

@dwp13my father Dan Walsh, continues to pull. He does well yet : )

[@keira23irishz]

thats my uncle!

[@nc9925]

Thank GOD for safety equipment!!!!!

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

Nothing to see before 1:40. Go straight there, trust me.

[@dianaburghduf1603]

So..........full pull correct? Sorry. That was frightening.

[@stanleypinkerd4996]

Diana Burghduf.

[@MFKR696]

More like a full-pull and a half.

[@whiskeywisco]

INF1D3L010 some say he would still be pulling

[@oaktree1290]

Looks like he pulled the farthest

[@dvddmc]

FULLLL PULLLLL

[@ben.757]

Too mach HP

[@keira23irishz]

Not to much HP... Actually the breaks went out on the sled they were malfunctioning the entire pull (hitting the break switch with a hammer)

[@davehager1981]

Keira Walshdr

[@maximumhardcore4362]

Give me a brake

[@markriley3782]

dose anybody know about the one arm bandit

[@snotnosetom4417]

dose???? What is dose? Dumbing of America right here.

[@amymahoney4097]

@@snotnosetom4417 // agreed

[@poshpanda469]

3 jets, who thought that was a good idea. Oh, he forgot the brakes. 😨😱🤕

[@21sheldo]

Rodalyn Knox and the Sassy Massy had a cage years before Walsh did.

[@jaykettlewell3922]

Didn't they have a kill switch back then?